Dragon Ball has been going strong for over forty years. Between the manga, anime, and multiple adaptations and spin-offs, there's no shortage of Dragon Ball content out there. In the nearly half a century that the series has been around, it's introduced fans to a myriad of characters.
Plenty of characters have had their highs and lows throughout the series, with some reaching new heights and others falling into relative obscurity. While the series' future is uncertain, we left things off with a new picking order that might surprise some. These are the strongest characters in Dragon Ball, at least as of right now.
Piccolo
New Form, New Piccolo
For the longest time, Piccolo was a character who was relegated to a supporting role. Though he stood as an equal to Goku during their battle at the World Martial Arts tournament, Piccolo gradually became a supporting character with Goku, and later Vegeta and other Saiyan characters hogging all the spotlight.
He may still be lagging behind Vegeta and Goku, but Piccolo is definitely more powerful now than he was at the beginning of Super. Now that he's unlocked his Orange Piccolo transformation, Piccolo will definitely be able to have more of a direct impact on the story if it ever continues.
Broly
Broly Instantly Became one of Dragon Ball's Strongest
As far as non-canon movie exclusive villains went, Broly was probably the most popular among fans. After years of wishing he'd make it into the series officially, he finally got his time to shine with his debut in Dragon Ball Super: Broly.
In terms of raw power, Broly has some of the greatest potential in the series. He showed off his ability to adapt and keep up with Goku and Veta's various transformations during their initial clash. Now that he's getting better at controlling his Legendary Super Saiyan form, it looks like Broly might end up as one of the series' strongest characters.
Vegeta
Everyone's Favorite Anti-Hero Finally Caught Up
Vegeta and Goku might finally be on equal footing for the first time in years. While Goku seems to be leaning more towards Whis' training and mastering the Angels' skills, Vegeta looks to be doing well under Beerus' tutelage, with the God of Destruction teaching him some valuable new tricks.
Goku might have Ultra Instinct, but Vegeta managed to obtain Ultra Ego, with the more aggressive style of fighting perfectly suiting him. We know that Vegeta's only going to get stronger from here, so it'll be interesting to see how things play out once he fully masters Ultra Ego.
Goku
Goku's Still Doing Incredible Things
Speaking of Goku, it might be a surprise for some to see that he's not higher up here. While we know that Goku has often beaten the odds and pushed himself beyond what many expected he could do, Super has established that there are entities out there even he can't hope to match. At least not yet.
As it stands, Goku has been progressing well under Whis' tutelage. As you'd expect of Goku, not only has he improved his mastery over Ultra Instinct, but he's also unlocked a form of it unique to him called True Ultra Instinct. By the end of the Super Hero Saga, it's hinted that Goku has become even more proficient with Perfected Ultra Instinct. That would make him tough to beat, at least for mortal characters. But there are a couple who have a pretty decent shot.
Gohan
Is Gohan Back For Good?
Gohan has had an up-and-down ride throughout Dragon Ball. Fans know he has the potential to be the strongest character in the series, and now that he's unlocked his Beast form, it's likely that he'll remain a powerhouse going forward.
While sparring with Goku in Beast form, Gohan looks like he's comfortable keeping up with his dad while he's using Perfected Ultra Instinct. Keep in mind that Gohan routinely slacks off on his training, and Goku is much more dedicated. Though Goku was able to keep up thanks to being more in practice than his son, Gohan definitely has the higher ceiling.
Frieza
A Surprise Reveal Set Frieza Up As The Strongest Mortal Right Now
Bringing back Frieza might've been a contentious decision, but you can't say the series hasn't been fun since his return. Frieza briefly reached a point where he was able to stand as Dragon Ball's strongest villain once again, but he was quickly taken care of by Goku and Vegeta.
But with the shocking revelation at the end of the Granolah The Survivor Saga that he's unlocked a new transformation, Frieza looks to once again be the strongest mortal in the universe. It was an impactful moment, as not only did he destroy Awakened Gas, but he also took out Goku and Vegeta in their True Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego forms with one hit. You can bet that Frieza will once again be the foe to beat once the series comes back.
Beerus
The God of Destruction is No Pushover
As Universe 7's God of Destruction, there aren't many characters who are as strong as Beerus. We saw just how powerful he was during the Battle of Gods movie, where Goku struggled to keep up with the destroyer despite having obtained the incredibly powerful Super Saiyan God form.
Goku and Vegeta are benefiting from Whis and Beerus taking an interest in them, and they're definitely way stronger now than they were before. But there's nothing to suggest that they, nor other incredibly powerful characters like Broly, Gohan, or Frieza, are anywhere close to matching Beerus' horrifying power.
The Angels & Grand Zeno
Some People Are Just Can't Be Surpassed
If there's anyone stronger than a destroyer, it's Grand Zeno and the Angels that guide them. Angels are much stronger than Gods of Destruction, possessing near-immeasurable power. While Grand Zeno, who might not be strong in the traditional sense, is undoubtedly the most powerful being in the universe, thanks to his ability to wipe anything in the universe from existence.
We probably won't be seeing Goku and company ever reach this level of power, but that might be a good thing. As great as it is to have characters in the Dragon Ball universe with this level of power and ability, Goku and the rest of the main and supporting cast being a little more grounded keeps the story interesting.
Dragon Ball
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1986 - 1989
- Network
- Fuji TV
Cast
-
Masako NozawaSon Goku (voice) -
Mayumi TanakaKrillin (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
Goku, a young, powerful boy with a tail, spends his days hunting and living off the land. His life changes when he meets Bulma, a teen genius on a quest to collect seven magical Dragon Balls that summon a dragon capable of granting any wish. Together, they set off on an adventure filled with powerful martial arts battles, formidable foes, and unlikely alliances.
- Number of Episodes
- 153
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.97
